Panty girdle



Filed Feb. 3, 1958, Ser. No. 712,765 7 Claims. (Cl. 128-529) This invention relates to an undergarment, and more part cularly to a panty girdle which is worn on the lower portion of the body to brace and support the muscles of the lower portion of the body for greater comfort and a neater appearance.

It IS an object of this invention to provide a new and mproved panty girdle which provides an elastic force in a diagonal direction, criss-crossing over the abdomen and buttocks of the wearer to support the muscles thereof.

A more specific object of this invention is to provide a new and improved panty girdle which incorporates a pair of wide elastic bands, each of which extends diagonally as from one side of the girdle, across the front and the rear thereof, to the other side, thereby forming a criss-cross elastic force extending from one hip to the opposite thigh in sling-like manner to support and contain the muscles of the abdomen'and buttocks of the wearer.

Another object of this invention is to provide a new and mproved panty girdle in which a crotch of similar elastic material is provided to retain'the bands in desired position on the wearers body, the crotch piece comprising a pair of relatively narrow bands connecting the lower edges of each wide band at an internal portion thereof.

A further object of this invention is to provide a panty girdle which incorporates a new and improved crotch construction which telescopes when the wearer is standing to provide a narrower and more comfortable width, and separates to form an opening when desired or when the wearer is sitting, and which affords a desired stabilizing effect to the wide bands in either position.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide a new and improved panty girdle of the character described in which the wide elastic bands are unrestricted by the stitching of the garment and may therefore move freely with the movement of the body to effect an unhampered giagonal force across the aforementioned muscles of the A still further object of this invention is to provide a new and improved panty girdle which is economical to manufacture and whose component parts are easily cut,

arranged, and assembled to provide the desired diagonal criss-cross exerting force.

A general object of this invention is to provide a new and improved panty girdle which overcomes difficulties associated with prior means heretofore intended to complish generally similar purposes.

These and other objects of this invention will be more readily apparent to one skilled in the art from the following detailed description of the drawings and appended claims.

. or crouching position; and

FIG. 4 is a fragmentarv front view, in elevation, of

another embodiment of this invention.

' Referring to the drawings, and more particularly to FIGS. 1-3, there is shown by way of illustration, but not of limitation, a panty girdle generally referred to by tates atent the numeral 10, which comprises a pair of relatively wide outer and inner bands 11 and 12, respectively. The bands 11 and 12 are formed of an elastic fabric, and preferably of the commonly known two-way stretch material.

The outer wide band 11 includes a front panel 13 and a rear panel 14 secured together as by stitching along the side edges 16 and 17 to form a continuous tubular band. The panels 13 and 14 are formed with complementary upper edges 18 and 19, respectively, which extend downwardly from the upper corner 21 of the side 16 to the side 17, and coincide to form a common upper edge 22 defining the upper opening of the tubular band 11. In order to provide a more comfortable and closer fitting opening at the upper edge 22, the panels preferably include a relatively narrow strip 23 of elastic material, attached thereto by stitching or the like.

The panel 13 is preferably cut away at the left side, as viewed in FIG. 1, the cut-out being indicated by the numeral 25. The cut-out 25 preferably extends from a point 24 intermediate of the band 11 downwardly and arcuately to the lower edge 26 of the band. A complementary cut-out 27 is provided in the panel 14 and substantially coincides with the cut-out 25, extending from the point 24 of the side 16to the lower edge 28 of the panel 14. The lower edges 26, 28 of the panels 13 and 14 are preferably formed with arcuate cuts, as best seen in FIGS. 1 and 2. The right portion 29 of the bottom edge of the panel 13 may be angularly cut or slightly arcuately cut to form a better fitted opening for the left leg of the wearer of the garment.

The inner wide band 12 is formed substantially similar to the band 11, but is telescoped within-the band 11 in such manner that it forms a substantially mirror image of the band 11. The band 12 includes a front panel 31 and a rear panel 32 which are provided with upper edges 33 and 34, respectively, extending diagonally from an upper corner 35 of a side edge 36 underlying the side 17 of panel 11, and downwardly to the opposite edge 37 of the band 12 underlying the edge 16 of the panel 11.

The panel 12 further includes a cut-out 38 substantially identical to the cut-out 25 of the panel 11, extend ing from the side edge 36 arcuately to the bottom edge 39 of the band 11. An angular, or other, cut 41 is provided at the bottom left edge of the band 12 opposed to the cut-out 29 of the panel 11, toform 'an opening for the right leg of the wearer. A relative y narrow elastic band 42 is secured to the upper edges 33 and 34 of the panels 31 and 32, respectively, identical to the band 23 of the band 11 to perform the same function for the band 12, i.e., to give a more comfortable and better fitted opening 43 in the band 12.

A crotch member 44, of a band or strip of elastic, or other suitable material, substantially narrower than the bands 11 and 12, is attached at one end thereof as by stitching or the like to the bottom edge 26 of the panel 13 and at the other end thereof to the bottom edge 28 of the panel 14 to form a depending sling-like structure between the panels 13 and 14. To finish the leg openings defined by cut-outs 29 and 41 and the corresponding leg openings at the other sides of the garment, elastic strips 46 and 47 are preferably attached to the panels 13 and 14 and the crotch piece 44 to finish the edges thereof, and thereby provide a closer and more comfortable fit for the parts of the body extending therethrough.

Band 12 is similarly supplied with a crotch member 48 which underlies and telescopes with the crotch 44 in the position shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. The crotch 48 is attached as .by stitching or the like to the lower edge 39 of the panel 31 and the corresponding edge 49 of the panel 32 to form a depending sling-like structure between the panels 31 and 32. The crotch members 44 and 48 are of substantially the same width, to give the appearance and the comfort of a single piece. Preferably the lower edges of the band 12 are finished 'by elastic strips 51 and 52, substantially identical to the strips 46 and ,47. If desired, a plurality of depending loops 53 may be provided on the elastic strips 46 and 51 to provide attachment means for garter straps or the like.

The bands 11 and 12 are so constructed that the upper edges 18 and 33 of the respective bands are substantially parallel to the longitudinal stretch of the elastic fabric indicated by the arrows 54 and 55. The other stretch of the fabric is indicated on the panel 13 by the arrow 56, as is well known.

A feature of the instant construction is that the primary longitudinal stretch or elastic force of the material be arranged substantially parallel to the upper edges 18 and 33 to provide a diagonal. elastic force extending from the side edge 16 of the panel 13 to the opposite side edge 17, and from the side edge 36 of the band 12 to the opposite side edge 37.

In this manner of construction, the supporting force extends as from the thigh of the left leg as encased in the right side of the panel 13 (PEG. 1), side edge 17, and left side of the panel 14 (FIG. 2) of the band 11 to the right hip of the wearer as encased by the left side of the panel 13 (FIG. 1), side edge 16, and the right side of panel 14 (FIG. 2). Therefore, it is to be understood that the band 11 has an elastic force which extends from the left thigh to the right hip across the front and back, or the abdomen and buttocks of the wearer, giving support to the muscles of these parts of the body.

The band 12 correspondingly exerts an elastic force from the left hip to the right thigh; the left hip being encased by the right side of panel 31 (FIG. 1), side edge 36 and the left side of the panel 32 (FIG. 2), and the right thigh being encased by the left side of panel 31 (FIG. 1), the side edge 37, and the right side of the panel 32 (FIG. 2). The left thigh extends through the opening formed at the strip 46, and the right thigh extends through the opening formed by the strip 51.

Another feature of this invention is the securcment of the wide bands 11 and 12 in such manner that they are able to move freely with the movement of the body, the bands being secured in telescoping relation with the band 12 within the band 11, as by stitching along the overlapped portions of the side edges 17 and 36 and the correspondingoverlapped portion of the side edges 16 and 37. If desired, a spot of stitching may be provided at a central point of the intersecting elastic strips 23 and 42, where they intersect at the front of the panty girdle to prevent separation of the bands at the top thereof and thereby facilitate inserting of legs through top of the girdle. This spot of stitching may include an ornamental piece 57, such as a bow-tied ribbon, or the like, if desired.

The provision of the cut-outs 25--27 and the cut-out 38 of the bands 11 and 12, respectively, facilitates movement of the wearer inasmuch as the motion of the limbs begins at a point substantially in line with these cut-outs. The cut-outs leave a single layer of elastic material at the thighs of the wearer, providing sufiicient and desired elastic and drawing force to these portions yet allowing greater freedom and comfort to the wearer when walking, standing or sitting.

The application of the diagonal forces, from a thigh to the opposite hip as heretofore described, is unhampered during movement or change of position, as the bands 11 and Rare secured together for a relatively short distance, being secured by stitching at the overlapped portions of the side edges only. Therefore, this garment gives greater comfort and freedom of movement to the wearer while providing a highly effective elastic force to support the muscles of the abdomen and buttocks.

Referring .to FIG. 3, the panty girdle is illustrated as in a sitting position wherein the crotch members 44 and 48 may be separated manually or automatically by the spreading of the legs to form an opening 58 between the members for the convenience of the wearer. The crotch members, while in this position, continue to retain the bands 11 and 12 positioned on the body, and retain support of the desired body muscles.

Referring to FIG. 4, another embodiment of this in= vention is illustrated wherein like parts are referred to by like numbers. In this instant embodiment, the panty girdle 10' comprises front diagonal criss-crossing wide bands 13 and 31 and rear diagonal crisis-crossing wide bands, 14 and 32, the band 14 not being visible in this fragmentary view. The panty girdle further includes a crotch member 44 secured to the bands 13 and 14 and a crotch member 48 secured to the bands 31 and 32, in telescoping relationship.

In this embodiment, however, the panty girdle 10' provides for a pair of side panels, one at each side of the garment, onebeing indicated at 60. The panels 60 are adapted to overlie the sides of the body of the wearer and extend from an upper opening 61 of the girdle to the leg openings, one of which is indicated at 62. The front panels 13 and 31 and rear panels 14, 32 are preferably secured as by stitching 63, or the like, to edges like 64 of the side panels 60.

A particular advantage of this embodiment is the smoother and less bulky appearance afforded to the wearer by providing a smooth single layered panel at the sides. The diagonal forces of the bands 13, 14, 3 1 and 32 are identical to these of the first embodiment, providing a criss-cross diagonal force across the front and rear portions of the wearers body.

If desired, additional stitching indicated at 65 may be provided to secure the band 13 to the band 14 and the bandp31 to the band 32 at the upper edges thereof to prevent separation of the bands and thereby avoid inadvertent insertion of legs between the bands when stepping into the girdle. Such stitching is preferably of an expandable type to provide unhampered movement of the wide bands.

In general, this invention provides relatively wide elastie bands, secured as by stitching atthe side edges thereof, and formed of a three-way stretch material. The bands are diagonally related as to exert a criss-cross elastic force extending across the front and rear portions of the body of the wearer, as from a thigh to the opposite hip. Appropriate cut-outs are formed in the bands adjacent leg openings to give greater comfort to the wearer and afford greater freedom and movement of the body. Crotch members are attached to the bottom edges of each band and telescope, one within, the other to form a substantially narrower crotch piece than has been heretofore provided in similar garments, giving greater comfort to the wearer while retaining the wide bands in the desired supporting positions on the body.

While I have herein shown and described what I conceived to be the most desired embodiments of my invention, it is to be understood that alterations and modifications thereof may be made in a manner to satisfy the spirit of my invention which is intended to comprehend any and all equivalent devices as comprehended in the following claims.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A panty girdle which comprises: a pair of relatively wide bands of elastic material for encircling the lower portion of a torso, each band having a front panel and a rear panel, one of said wide bands being telescopingly disposed in the other of said wide bands and said one wide band diagonally crossing said other band at an intermediate. portion of said panels, whereby each wide band exerts a diagonal force from the upper thigh of one leg to the opposite hip of the wearer, each of said wide bands 7 including a relatively narrow band of elastic material extending from an intermediate portion of a lower edge of a front panel to an intermediate portion of a lower edge of the rear panel, the narrow band of said other wide band overlying the narrow band of said one wide band to form a crotch.

2. A panty girdle which comprises: a pair of relatively wide bands of an elastic material, one of said wide bands being telescopically disposed in the other of said bands, each of said wide bands having front and rear panels and sides; an upper edge on each panel, said upper edges extending diagonally from one of said sides, the upper edges of a front and rear panel of each wide band coinciding, said upper edge of said one wide band being oppositely inclined relative to said upper edge of said other wide band, whereby the upper edges of said front panels cross at an intermediate portion thereof and said upper edges of said rear panels cross at an intermediate portion thereof, and each of said bands having a lower edge portion and a crotch piece together defining a leg opening.

3. A girdle in accordance with claim 2 wherein the direction of elasticity of each of said panels is substantially parallel to said upper edge.

4. A panty girdle in accordance with claim 2 wherein said one wide band is secured to said other wide band at overlapping portions of said sides. a

5. A panty girdle which comprises: a pair of relatively wide bands of an elastic material, one of said wide bands being telescopically disposed in the other of said bands, each of said wide bands having front and rear panels and sides; an upper edge on each panel, said upper edges extending diagonally from one of said sides, the upper edges of a front and rear panel of each Wide band coinciding, said upper edge of said one wide band being oppositely inclined relative to said upper edge of said other wide band, whereby the upper edges of said front panels cross at an intermediate portion thereof and said upper edges of said rear panels cross at an intermediate portion thereof, each of said bands having means defining leg openings, said one wide band being secured to said other wide band at overlapping portions of said sides, means defining an arcuate cutout on each of said front and rear panels extending from a side to a lower edge of said panel, said cutout of the front panel of one of said wide bands coinciding with said cutout of the rear panel of said one wide band, and said cutout of the front panel of the other of said wide bands coinciding with said outout of the rear panel of said other wide band, said cutout of said one wide band being opposite said cutout of said other wide band.

6. A panty girdle in accordance with claim 5 including a pair of relatively narrow bands of elastic material, one of said narrow bands extending from an intermediate portion of the lower edge of the front panel of said one wide band to an intermediate portion of the lower edge of the rear panel of said one wide band, and the other of said narrow bands extending from an intermediate portion of the lower edge of the front panel of said other wide band to an intermediate portion of the lower edge of the rear panel of said other wide band, said one narrow band telescoping within the other of said narrow hands when the wearer is in a standing position and separating to form a space therebetween when the wearer is in a sitting or crouching position.

7. A panty girdle which comprises: relatively wide front and rear panels and a pair of relatively narrow side panels; each of said front and rear panels including inner and outer wide bands, said outer bands extending diagonally from an upper region of one of said side panels to a lower region of the other of said side panels; said inner wide bands extending diagonally from an upper region of the other of said side panels to a lower region of said one side panel, said inner and outer wide bands of each front and rear panels crossing at an intermediate portion thereof; a relatively narrow crotch band extending from the outer wide band of said front panel to the outer wide band of said rear panel; a relatively narrow crotch band extending from the inner wide band of said front panel to the inner wide band of said rear panel, said crotch bands being in telescoping relationship.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,168,009 Van Praag Aug. 1, 1939 2,446,590 Hill Aug. 10, 1948 2,640,196 Gould June 2, 1953 2,758,311 Studler Aug. 14, 1956 2,849,003 Hine Aug. 26,, 1958 2,875,766 Lobbenberg Mar. 3, 1959 FOREIGN PATENTS 603,502 France Jan. 9, 1926 

